Chapter 1
Newt was looking at the Cauldron Cakes in front of him. The Pumpkin ones were the ones that Theseus liked, there was a limited edition one, it was bigger than the normal ones but if Newt got it then he won't have enough money to floo back to his flat in Oxford.
Armistice was announced two weeks ago and Theseus was returning that night. The brothers hadn't seen each other in nearly four years. The euphoria of the Great War ending was as clear as glass in both the magical and non-magical world.
The soldiers who had gone to war were returning and those who weren’t were being mourned by their families. Newt felt a grim relief that his family wasn't one of them.
But that didn’t mean that they were having the same experience as the latter. Theseus was being hailed as a War Hero by the ministry, for “inspiring young wizards to fight for what was right.”
This had put their family in the center of attention. Even when Theseus broke the rules, he got rewarded for it.
But Newt didn’t need to think of that. He needed to get something for Theseus.
He had asked his friends about it but Robert had passed out drunk, Violet had said that he knew Theseus best out of all of them and John had said that Theseus didn't deserve anything after willingly joining the bloodshed.
Newt wasn't talking to John because of it. Newt had looked at the Quidditch shop and the bookstore and the stationary store, all the things Theseus had liked. He wasn't sure if Theseus still liked it.
The war changed people, he knew Theseus would come changed too. But he didn't want to think of his brother as those strangers with dead eyes he had seen in the station when the Dragon Corps had disbanded.
Thinking about it all was so painful, he wished he was somewhere either in nature or the archives of the Magikae Academicus Society. Those things were most familiar to him at the moment. Even Violet and John had become unfamiliar to him.
Suddenly he felt someone breathing by his cheek and he jumped and found himself staring at a familiar set of grey eyes. “I knew I recognised you! Newt Scamander.”
Newt stared at the girl for a moment, she looked exactly the same as she had the last time he had met her, though her black hair was now pinned up in a way that gave an impression that her hair only reached her shoulder.
A few seconds he had trouble placing a name to that face but when he did, he couldn't help but feel delighted “Blossom Richardson!”
Newt had hurriedly bought the limited edition Cauldron cakes and decided to think of the consequences later. When they had departed in Switzerland he had thought that was the only time they were meeting but obviously faith had other plans.
They went to a park nearby Diagon Alley. They talked as they felt the cars zoom past behind them.
They talked for what felt like only minutes but they had been there for three hours. Blossom and her older sister Alcestis had recently set up a Stationary Shop in Diagon Alley. It was called Sorority Stationery.
Alcestis was only five years older than Blossom and Newt, and was getting married this upcoming January. Their mother had died and their father was at a home for the elderly so it was just the two sisters.
Newt told her about his own life since the last time they met. He now lived in Oxford after becoming an official member of the Magikae Academicus Society.
Some of his papers had been printed already but he was working in the ministry because he wasn’t earning well from only the papers. And more than half of his pay went on research stuff, though he didn’t tell Blossom about it yet.
He also didn’t tell her about the Dragon Corps. Thinking about that brought back the smell of smoke and burning flesh.
“I saw your brother in the newspaper,” Blossom said, “He is Theseus Scamander right?”
Newt had gone silent. “Yes.” he said softly, he should have known the conversation would steer towards this.
“Everyone’s talking about him.”
Newt sighed. “I suppose they are.”
Blossom must have noticed the shift in Newt “You don't like him?” She asked curiously.
“Of course I love him.” Newt said rather offended by this intrusive question.
“I was asking if you like him.” She said calmly but Newt noticed her features harden ever so slightly.
“Sorry,” He felt bad for snapping at her. “And it's complicated,” he said, turning away from her.
“He is returning today.” Newt said without thinking.
“Oh, that must be wonderful.”
Newt will be seeing Theseus after four years. Theseus, who was whole at least in his body, Theseus, who was alive.
“Yes, it is.” Newt said truthfully. It was a miracle. “But it's still…” complicated . Newt had so many feelings going in his heart. Ranging from hurt to relief.
Their last conversation had been a fight. Newt’s parents had given him a deadline after his expulsion, they had said that by then he needed to be out of the house because they’d had enough of him.
Newt had wanted to ask Theseus if he would house him until he got a place of his own. But the conversation had started with the expulsion and one thing led to another and Theseus said that he wouldn’t be taking Newt in, that it was a good lesson that their parents were teaching.
Theseus had abandoned Newt. Newt was still finding it difficult to forgive him for that. Even though a letter had revealed that it had all been a big misunderstanding.
Theseus had thought that their parents were lying to make Newt experience some consequences. Newt never got to answer the letter because it had been a farewell one before Theseus joined the war.
Newt still remembered how his socks had soaked through his shoes as he had gone to Theseus’ flat, hoping against hope that Theseus was still there. He still remembered the feeling of his hair clinging to his face and neck and head as the rain crashed down on him.
“My sister and I…” Blossom paused as if she was thinking on what to say. She was staring at a flower growing in the middle of the path, her lips slightly parted and her eyes reminiscing.
Her hair in a half up-do and her white dress gave her almost an ethereal quality. Newt felt blood rushing to his face so he also decided to stare at the flower. “Alcestis and I…” She started again “didn't have the best relationship when we were growing up.”
Newt didn't say anything he was curious. “Our parents weren't the nicest of people… and instead of it bringing us closer it pushed us apart.”
Newt’s heart started to slowly slip through his ribs. This sounded all too familiar. “It was only after both of us had gotten out of that house that we were able to…. But I— sometimes I wish that we had been closer then maybe it wouldn’t have been so…”
She fell quiet and they both fell into an almost peaceful silence. Newt’s heart ached for her, he understood how this felt. Him and Theseus used to be close, when they were both young but Newt was too young to remember, but if he thought hard and far he could feel the feelings he must have felt back then.
Newt had given up on Theseus, or at least he thought he had. Why was he buying Cauldron Cakes and was anxious to reunite with his brother? He hadn’t given up. “It’s hard…” Newt started “it’s hard thinking of what-ifs.”
From the corner of his eyes he looked at her and she smiled a little and nodded, her eyes not leaving the flower. “I have gotten a second chance.” Blossom said. “And I am not going to waste it.”
Newt was suddenly struck with a realisation. Maybe this was the second chance for his and Theseus’ relationship. Theseus might not be the same Theseus he was before but it was still Newt’s brother.
“Oh look at the time!” Newt said, checking his pocket watch. He needed to get back to his flat in Oxford, to get ready to go to his parents’. He didn’t want to see them but also didn’t want to give them a reason to criticise his appearance, there was so much he could handle in one day.
Blossom also realised the time “Ohh I am late! My sister is going to be so annoyed.” she frowned.
There was one more thing Newt wanted to do. “Would you— would you like to meet again? Like for a date—” he asked, hardly thinking.
They had just met two times, it was too early to call it anything in Newt’s opinion. He had just put a foot in his mouth as he did most times.
But to Newt’s relief Blossom looked delighted. “Of course!”
“So, there is a restaurant in Diagon Alley—” he said remembering all the things people did during courtship. Even the thought of sitting in a restaurant with someone almost a stranger made him queasy. There was so much etiquette to remember.
He was sure that there was a book about it that Violet owned. He’ll ask her—
“How about a walk in Chaucer Park in Kent?” Blossom interrupted him. Chaucer Park was a park visible only to Wixen. “I heard there is a flower show going on.”
All of Newt’s worries suddenly eased. He could do flowers. “Yes, that sounds perfect.”
They made a plan for two weeks after, since both of them were rather busy. Then they went their separate ways. Newt felt much better and much hopeful than he had done in the morning.
Later that night as Theseus and Newt both sat in Theseus’ childhood bedroom. Newt had said “I am glad you are alive.” He was trying to let every shield that had formed from years of complicated relationship fall.
Theseus hadn’t looked at him but Newt had seen his eyes glistening in the lamplight. Then Theseus had said “I am glad you are alive too.”
Then they fell into a comfortable silence. There was so much Newt wanted to say to Theseus but didn’t know how to turn them into words. In the end he told him something good, something recent. “I’ve met someone… I think.”